Self-opening umbrella



S. S. FRETZ, SR- SELF OPENING UMBRELLA. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-12. 1921.

Patented Aug- 15, l922.

ATTORNEYS earner eer e,

SAMUEL s. rnnrz, sn, or rrrrLannnrn a, rnnns'rmrnnrnysnLr-ornnms UMBRELLA.

Specification of Letters Latent.

at/rented Aug 15, 1922.

Application filed September 12, 1921. Serial 1109500 39.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. ..Fnnrz, Sr,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Self-Opening Umbrella, of which the following is a specification. 7

My invention'relates to a self opening umbrella or parasol which is provided with a tip cup, and consists of novel means for controlling the tips and ribs to prevent spreading of the same, for controlling the runner to prevent opening of the umbrella, and novel means for releasing the tips, ribs and runner to permit such opening, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The invention is satisfactorily illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but the important instrumentalities thereof may be varied, and so it is to be understood that the invention is not-limitedto the specific details shown and described,but I reserve the right to cover such modifications as come properly within the spirit or scope of the claims.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of an umbrella embodying my invention in closed condition.

Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the frame thereof in open condition.

Figures 3, 4, and 5 represent longitudinal sections on enlarged scales of portions, certain members being in different positions in the diflerent figures.

Figure 6 represents a transverse section on line 6--6 Figure 4.

Figure 7 represents a transverse section on line 77 Figure 4:.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts .in the figures.

Referring to the drawings. 7

1 designates the ribs, 2 the stretchers, 3 the runner, and 4 the stick of an umbrella. In the stick which is hollow near the handle is the catch 5 which consists of a bar of resilient metal held in the stick and having in its side the recess 6, the walls of which form the opposite shoulders 7, 7*, said catch having on what will be its lower end the finger piece 8 for pressing in the same, the adjacent portion of the stick having therein the slot 9 through which said portion is movable.

10 designates a discor head which is secured to the portion of the runner towards the handle of the umbrella, the same being freely encircled by a collar which forms the slidable tip cup 11 and has connected with it the reduced sleeve 12-w'hich is movable with said tip cup and extends towards the handle of the umbrella and has on its inner end the inturned flange 13, andon its outer end the inturned flange 14, the latter being adapted primarily to enter the recess '6 "and be engaged by the shoulder 7*;whereby the tip cup will be held in operative position as will be hereinafter more fully referredto.

interposed between the head 10 and the inner flange13 of the 'sleeve12is the spring in operative position encircling'the'tipsof 15 which iscompressed when the tip cup is I Within the sleeve 12 is thewidened tubu 4 lar member 16, whichis somewhat resilient and continuous of the adjacent portion of the runner and slidable therewith over'the stick andhas'on its outer end the inturned flange-117 which is adapted to enter the recess 6 of the catch 5 and to engage with the shoulder 7 of said recess, it being seen that,

shown in Figure 5.

When the umbrella is closed the flange l7 of the tubular member 16 moving with the runner is caused to drop into the recess 6 and to be engaged by the shoulder 7 thus locking the runner and preventing improper opening of the umbrella.

9O 1 The r1bs are gathered with'the skirt of the umbrella and the tips of the former are brought over the head 10, when the tip cup is pushed by hand towards the tips so as to encircle the latter..

Then the flange 14.- of'the sleeve 12 drops into the recess 6 of the catch and is engaged by the shoulder 7 and thus the tip cup is held immovable, it now inclosing the tips while preventing the ribs from spreading, and the umbrella from opening. Mea na of the catch recedes fromthefflange 14 of 1 the sleeve 12 when said sleeve is free to move in the direction from the handle. Then the while, the spring 15 has been compressed, as

spring 15 is permitted to expand when'it I moves the cup 11 from around the tips in the direction toWards the handle and so the tips are ,no longer encircled and controlled and so they may spread from the head 10 and With them the ribs. Then the catch is pushed in when the shoulder 7 of the catch recedes from the flange 17 of the tubular member 16 and so no longer holds said member and the runner in locked condition. Then as the member and the runner are free to move the opening spring of the umbrella (common in this class 01 devices, but not herein shown) is rendered operative to impart motion to the runner and consequently to the stretchers and ribs, thus effecting the self opening of the umbrella.

Having thus described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a self opening umbrella, a runner, a movable tip cup thereon, a catch on the stick, and means on said catch adapted both for locking said tip cup and said runner, said means embodying a recess in said catch,

the opposite Walls of Which form shoulders for the engagement therewith of members of said tip cup and runner respectively.

2. In a self opening umbrella, a runner, a movable tip cup, a sleeve connected With the latter and slidable on the runner, said sleeve having on its outer end an inturned flange,

a tubular member connected with said runner and having on its outer end an inturned flange, and a catch on the stick, said catch having in its side a recess, the Walls of Which form opposite side shoulders, said recess be ing adapted to receive both of said inturned flanges, one of Which latter is engageable with one of said shoulders, and the other flange is engageable With the opposite shoulder.

3. In a self opening umbrella, a runner, a movable tip cup, a sleeve connected with the latter and slidable on the runner, said sleeve having on its outer end an inturned flange, a tubular member connected ith.

said runner and having on its outer end an inturned flange, a catch on the stick, said catch having in its side. a recess, the Walls of which form opposite side shoulders, said recess being adapted to receive bothof said inturned flanges, one of Which latter is engageable with one of said shoulders, and the other flange is engageable With the opposite shoulder, a head on said runner Within said tip cup, and a resilient device interposed betWeen said head and said sleeve of the tip on a.

l SAMUEL S. FRETZ, SR. Witnesses:

JOHN A. VVInDEnsHEIM, N. Bussmenn. 

